Urban League of Cleveland

Organized in 1917, in Cleveland, Ohio, as the Negro Welfare Association of Cleveland to aid the adjustment of black workers coming to Cleveland during the Great Migration following World War I. Led by Wm. R. Conners for the first 25 years, it joined the National Urban League in 1930 and changed its name to the Urban League of Cleveland in 1940. Formed initially to confront barriers to economic opportunities and find jobs for black workers, by the 1930s the primary goal of the League was the issue of improved housing. Its purpose is interracial planning to help the community devise solutions to social and economic problems.

From the description of Records, series II, 1964-1981, 1968-1973. (Rhinelander District Library). WorldCat record id: 22540343

Organized in 1917, in Cleveland, Ohio, as the Negro Welfare Association of Cleveland. It joined the National Urban League in 1930 and changed its name to the Urban League of Cleveland in 1940. Its purpose is interracial planning to help the community devise solutions to social and economic problems.

From the description of Records 1917-1971. (Rhinelander District Library). WorldCat record id: 17649492

The Negro Welfare Association of Cleveland was founded on December 17, 1917 as an organization designed to assist and provide leadership to the city's recent African American migrants in their quest for suitable employment and to aid them in making the transition from rural Southern life to urban Northern life. The interracial group of prominent Cleveland, Ohio residents who organized the Association chose William Conners as its first executive director with offices at 3965 Central Avenue. The Negro Welfare Association of Cleveland was the city's first organization to be successful in the areas of housing, health, sanitation, recreation, education, and employment assistance.

In 1930 the Negro Welfare Association of Cleveland became an affiliate of the National Urban League. The National Urban League was founded in 1910 in New York City with Eugene Kinkle Jones as the first full time executive secretary. The governing board was drawn from the middle class and for this reason the National Urban League remained virtually unknown, during its early years, among the majority of the nation's African Americans. On November 22, 1940, the Negro Welfare Association decided to change its name legally to the Urban League of Cleveland. In 1941, Sidney R. Williams succeeded William Conners as the executive secretary of the League. Edward L. Worthington was president of the Board of Trustees and William O. Walker was chairman of the executive committee. The League, supported by the Community Fund, relocated at 8311 Quincy Avenue. The primary function of the League was interracial planning to serve the best interests of the community. The staff of the Urban League was composed of professionally trained consultants who assembled data regarding specific social and economic problems of minority groups. Social workers and planners were then called in to explore the data and make recommendations. A solution was proposed through cooperative planning.

During the 1930s, much of the League's strength was directed towards setting up neighborhood organizations or councils to improve communities. A consolidation of the African American was advocated to replace the many scattered, weak storefront churches. Constructive recreation was planned for youth in order to prevent juvenile delinquency. The blind and the handicapped were given aid. Counseling in health care and birth control was provided. A vocational guidance service was also available. Extensive research was conducted concerning industrial relations and housing. The League worked to persuade many unions to admit African American workers. Countless employers were induced to eliminate discriminatory practices. As a result of vocational counseling and negotiations, many African Americans received desirable employment. Improvement in working and living conditions was the goal of the league in the 1940s. The League worked for the prohibition of the quota systems, open unions, and reduced job segregation. Through public education, the League stressed self improvement in the African American community and emphasized increased skills and responsibility of workers. Mutual respect for all racial groups was a widely promoted attitude.

The conference was the favored technique used by the Urban League in the 1950s. Extensive research and investigation continued but the African American community was reached directly with public education, individual and group counseling, and community planning.

In 1963, the Urban League of Cleveland was the first of the sixty-five National Urban League affiliates to use the Skills Bank. Many African Americans were able to exercise their full job potential in this program. The highlights of the 1960s were youth motivation, career counseling, and community education. the Urban League Street Academy helped dropouts achieve their high school diplomas and then prepare for college. Most outstanding was the Urban League's work with responsible organizations in the field of Civil Rights. One result of these efforts was the passage of the Fair Housing Law.

The Urban League is the oldest social work organization in the country whose aim is eliminating racial prejudice as a barrier to equal opportunity.

click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for the Urban League of Cleveland click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for William Conners

From the guide to the Urban League of Cleveland Records, Series II, 1964-1981, 1968-1973, (Western Reserve Historical Society)

The Negro Welfare Association of Cleveland was founded on December 17, 1917 as an organization designed to assist and provide leadership to the city's recent African American migrants in their quest for suitable employment and to aid them in making the transition from rural Southern life to urban Northern life. The interracial group of prominent Cleveland, Ohio residents who organized the Association chose William Conners as its first executive director with offices at 3965 Central Avenue. The Negro Welfare Association of Cleveland was the city's first organization to be successful in the areas of housing, health, sanitation, recreation, education, and employment assistance.

In 1930 the Negro Welfare Association of Cleveland became an affiliate of the National Urban League. The National Urban League was founded in 1910 in New York City with Eugene Kinkle Jones as the first full time executive secretary. The governing board was drawn from the middle class and for this reason the National Urban League remained virtually unknown, during its early years, among the majority of the nation's African Americans. On November 22, 1940, the Negro Welfare Association decided to change its name legally to the Urban League of Cleveland. In 1941, Sidney R. Williams succeeded William Conners as the executive secretary of the League. Edward L. Worthington was president of the Board of Trustees and William O. Walker was chairman of the executive committee. The League, supported by the Community Fund, relocated at 8311 Quincy Avenue. The primary function of the League was interracial planning to serve the best interests of the community. The staff of the Urban League was composed of professionally trained consultants who assembled data regarding specific social and economic problems of minority groups. Social workers and planners were then called in to explore the data and make recommendations. A solution was proposed through cooperative planning.

During the 1930s, much of the League's strength was directed towards setting up neighborhood organizations or councils to improve communities. A consolidation of the African American was advocated to replace the many scattered, weak storefront churches. Constructive recreation was planned for youth in order to prevent juvenile delinquency. The blind and the handicapped were given aid. Counseling in health care and birth control was provided. A vocational guidance service was also available. Extensive research was conducted concerning industrial relations and housing. The League worked to persuade many unions to admit African American workers. Countless employers were induced to eliminate discriminatory practices. As a result of vocational counseling and negotiations, many African Americans received desirable employment. Improvement in working and living conditions was the goal of the league in the 1940s. The League worked for the prohibition of the quota systems, open unions, and reduced job segregation. Through public education, the League stressed self improvement in the African American community and emphasized increased skills and responsibility of workers. Mutual respect for all racial groups was a widely promoted attitude.

The conference was the favored technique used by the Urban League in the 1950s. Extensive research and investigation continued but the African American community was reached directly with public education, individual and group counseling, and community planning.

In 1963, the Urban League of Cleveland was the first of the sixty-five National Urban League affiliates to use the Skills Bank. Many African Americans were able to exercise their full job potential in this program. The highlights of the 1960s were youth motivation, career counseling, and community education. the Urban League Street Academy helped dropouts achieve their high school diplomas and then prepare for college. Most outstanding was the Urban League's work with responsible organizations in the field of Civil Rights. One result of these efforts was the passage of the Fair Housing Law.

The Urban League is the oldest social work organization in the country whose aim is eliminating racial prejudice as a barrier to equal opportunity.

click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for the Urban League of Cleveland

click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for William Conners

From the guide to the Urban League of Cleveland Records, 1914-1971, (Western Reserve Historical Society)